At which point several manufacturers started making polysilicon specifically and directly for the solar cell market.

FORBES: Noahpinion's Two Errors About Free Trade: Yes, Unilateral Free Trade Is The Answer

Piper Jaffray analyst Jesse Pichel said high prices for polysilicon--a key material used in solar cell manufacturing--eroded LDK's margins.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Many of the Chinese cell and panel producers are locked into forward contracts for their supplies of polysilicon.

FORBES: Noahpinion's Two Errors About Free Trade: Yes, Unilateral Free Trade Is The Answer

Zaman notes that Japan accounts for 2 GW of expected 2011 demand, over 19, 000 metric tons of polysilicon capacity, 650 MW of wafer capacity, 2.2 GW of cell capacity and 2.5 GW of module capacity.

FORBES: Connect